U.S. patent number 5,850,651 [Application Number 08/822,089] was granted by the patent office on 1998-12-22 for air jet flow type apparatus and method for treating textile material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hisaka Works, Ltd. Invention is credited to Osamu Ishimaru, Satoshi Nomura, Masao Takigawa.
United States Patent |
5,850,651 |
Ishimaru , et al. |
December 22, 1998 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Air jet flow type apparatus and method for treating textile
material
Abstract
A treating apparatus and method of the present invention carry
out dyeing, scouring, bleaching and other treatment for feeling of
a textile fabric by transferring and circulating the textile fabric
with jetting force of air and liquor using an air jet flow type
apparatus which is equipped with a fabric treating passageway in
circular form comprised of a transferring passageway and a
residence chamber both ends of which are jointed to one another,
and perform a series of treating operations such as charging
fabric, raising and holding of temperature at a constant degree,
cooling and drying more efficiently in a short time. The exit
section of the residence chamber is located at a position lower
than the entrance section of the chamber, close to the ground on
which the apparatus is installed, whereby charge and take-out of a
textile fabric is facilitated. Since the treating fluid jetting
section is provided at the inlet portion of the transferring
passageway (the exit section of the residence chamber), the textile
fabric under circulating is almost free from tension load, rope
wrinkle, friction mark, contact mark, etc.
Inventors: |
Ishimaru; Osamu (Habikino,
JP), Takigawa; Masao (Toyonaka, JP),
Nomura; Satoshi (Itami, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hisaka Works, Ltd (Osaka,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
26503044 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/822,089 |
Filed: |
March 20, 1997 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 21, 1995 [JP] |
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7-185331 |
Aug 28, 1995 [JP] |
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7-218434 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
8/152;
68/177 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06B
3/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06B
3/28 (20060101); D06B 3/00 (20060101); D06B
003/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;8/152 ;68/177,178
;26/20,21,87,105,DIG.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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51-32885 |
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Mar 1976 |
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JP |
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63-36385 |
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Jul 1988 |
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JP |
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730505 |
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Apr 1994 |
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JP |
|
753943 |
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Jun 1995 |
|
JP |
|
7185331 |
|
Jul 1995 |
|
JP |
|
7218434 |
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Aug 1995 |
|
JP |
|
7-218434 |
|
Aug 1995 |
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JP |
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7-27281 |
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Sep 1995 |
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JP |
|
7268763 |
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Oct 1995 |
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JP |
|
7305261 |
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Nov 1995 |
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JP |
|
8296166 |
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Nov 1996 |
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JP |
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PCT/JP96/01985 |
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Jul 1996 |
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WO |
|
9601985 |
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Jul 1996 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
"Treating Technology for Textile/Dyeing/Finishing", Takigawa et
al., Kako Gijutu, Jul. 10, 1996, vol. 31, No. 7, pp. 428-433, 484.
.
Takigawa Masao, Kako Gijutu, "Low Ratio Dyeing Method and Special
Treating", Jul. 1996, pp. 12-17 & 68..
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Primary Examiner: Stinson; Frankie L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Madison & Sutro
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile materials in
rope form, comprising a fabric treating passageway in circular form
which is composed of a transferring passageway intended to transfer
the textile fabric in rope form (textile fabrics) and a residence
chamber intended to transfer the textile fabric in zigzag form,
both ends of which are jointed to one another, the transferring
passageway is provided, at its inlet portion in approximately
vertical position, with a treating fluid jetting section and the
passageway bends in the direction of horizontal and extends in an
approximately straight form, the residence chamber having a slope
section which gradually inclines downward in direction from the
entrance section of the chamber to the advancing direction of the
textile fabric and having an exit section of spherical shape which
bends upward and having a porous perforated plate which composes a
dual bottom of the residence chamber, a treating liquor circulation
conduit which feeds a treating liquor via a pump and a heat
exchanger from a liquor accumulating portion being equipped at the
bottom of the residence chamber, an air circulation conduit which
feeds air from a gaseous phase area of the residence chamber
through a blower, and carrying out dyeing and other treatment with
jet flow of air and liquor mixed fluid jetted from the treating
fluid jetting section while transferring and circulating the
charged fabric from the transferring passageway to the residence
chamber and re-transferring from the residence chamber to the
transferring passageway, characterized in that air and liquor are
jetted in combination from the treating fluid jetting section which
comprises an air jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion, and
the exit section of the residence chamber is located at a position
lower than the entrance section of the chamber so that the textile
fabric can be taken up from the exit section in direction to the
treating fluid jetting section.
2. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 1, characterized in that the textile
fabric is given an expanding action by a reel or a roll which is
equipped in the exit section of the residence chamber, and the flow
direction of the textile fabric is converted at small turning angle
and, after turned, the textile fabric is transferred toward the
axial direction of the treating fluid jetting section.
3. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 1, characterized in that the exit
section of the residence chamber is located at a position lower
than the entrance section thereof, close to the ground level, and
is pherical, and the inlet portion of the transferring passageway
which is jointed to the exit section of the residence chamber in
approximately vertical position is provided with the treating fluid
jetting section.
4. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 1, characterized in that the treating
fluid jetting section comprises an air jetting portion and a liquor
jetting portion each of which is equipped with a control valve to
allow control of the feed rate and mix ratio of jet air and liquor
by a control unit according to type and weight per specific unit of
textile fabric and the purpose of treatment.
5. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 1, characterized in that the treating
fluid jetting section comprises an air jetting portion and a liquor
jetting portion each of which is equipped with a control valve so
as to allow adjustment of air to liquor mix ratio as well as
adjustment of nozzle clearance in the air jetting portion and the
liquor jetting portion by the control unit, whereby the both
jetting pressures are made variable.
6. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form, comprising a fabric treating passageway in circular form
which is composed of a transferring passageway intended to transfer
the textile fabric in rope form and a residence chamber intended to
transfer the textile fabric in zigzag form, both ends of which are
jointed to one another, and carrying out dyeing and other treatment
with jetting force of a treating mixed fluid which is composed of
jet air flow and liquor flow jetted from the treating fluid jetting
section while transferring and circulating the charged fabric from
the transferring passageway to the residence chamber and
re-transferring from the residence chamber to the transferring
passageway, characterized in that a nozzle case is equipped via a
flange so as to compose a part of the transferring passageway, the
nozzle case is partitioned with a partition flange which is
internally provided at the center point of the case, and is
provided with an air feed pipeline which communicates with the air
jetting portion and a liquor feed pipeline which communicates with
the liquor jetting portion, a sliding tube having a convexed
ring-form taper surface (a) at the end part of the air jetting
portion and a concaved ring-form taper surface (b) at the end part
of the liquor jetting section is provided so as to slide freely
through the partition flange of the nozzle case, a tubular guide
having a concaved ring-form taper surface (a) so as to form a
nozzle (a) corresponding to the taper surface (a) of the sliding
tube is provided at one end of the nozzle case, a trumpet-shaped
guide having at its one end a convexed ring-form taper surface (b)
so as to form a nozzle (b) corresponding to the taper surface (b)
of the sliding tube and having its other end acting as a fabric
guide is provided at other end of the nozzle case, and either one
or both of the tubular guide and trumpet-shaped guide can slidable
and the clearance in the nozzle (a) and nozzle (b) is adjustable
respectively.
7. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 6, characterized in that the tubular
guide is fixed to one end of the nozzle case, while the
trumpet-shaped guide is screwed to other end of the nozzle case so
that it can slide freely so as to allow adjustment of the clearance
in the nozzle (a) and nozzle (b).
8. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 6, characterized in that an adjust
ring is fitted on a screw threaded circumference of the sliding
tube so as to slide freely and decides the sliding stop position of
the sliding tube between itself and the partition flange provided
at the internal center point of the nozzle case, whereby the
clearance in the nozzles (a) and (b) is regulated.
9. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 6, characterized in that the jet spray
angle of the nozzle (a) is 15 to 50 degrees in both directions from
the axial center line of the sliding tube and the jet spray angle
of the nozzle (b) is 5 to 30 degrees in both directions from the
axial center line of the sliding tube.
10. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 6, characterized in that the jet spray
angle is so set up that the focal point of air jet flow from the
nozzle (a) matches that of liquor jet flow from the nozzle (b).
11. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form according to claim 6, characterized in that the air
jetting portion and liquor jetting portion provided inside the
nozzle case are interchangeable with one another in their
positions.
12. An air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile fabric in
rope form, comprising a circular fabric treating passageway which
is composed of a transferring passageway intended to transfer the
textile fabric in rope form and a residence chamber intended to
transfer the textile fabric in zigzag form, both ends of which are
jointed to one another, the transferring passageway which is
provided, at its inlet portion in approximately vertical position,
with a treating fluid jetting section and the passageway bends in
direction to horizontal position and extends in an approximately
straight form, the residence chamber having a slope section which
gradually inclines downward in direction from the entrance section
of the chamber to the advancing direction of the textile fabric and
having an exit section of spherical shape which bends upward and
having a porous perforated plate which composes a dual bottom of
the residence chamber, a treating liquor circulation conduit which
feeds treating liquor via a pump and a heat exchanger from an
liquid accumulating portion being equipped under the bottom of the
residence chamber, an air circulation conduit which feeds air from
a gaseous phase area of the residence chamber through a blower, and
carrying out dyeing and other treatment with jetting force of air
and liquor mixed fluid jetted from the treating fluid jetting
section while transferring and circulating the charged fabric from
the transferring passageway to the residence chamber and
re-transferring from the residence chamber to the transferring
passageway, characterized in that the apparatus is equipped with a
high temperature liquid drain valve connected to the residence
chamber, a pressure sensor intended to detect internal pressure of
the apparatus, a pressure control valve for cooling control
connected to the apparatus, and a control unit intended to control
the high temperature liquid drain valve and pressure control valve
for cooling control.
13. A method for treating a textile fabric in rope form in an air
jet flow type, comprising charging the textile fabric in a circular
fabric treating passageway comprised of a transferring passageway
and a residence chamber both ends of which are jointed to one
another, and carrying out dyeing and other treatment to the charged
textile fabric while transferring the textile fabric from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber, but in zigzag
form in the residence chamber, with jetting force of air and liquor
mixed fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid jetting section
having an air jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion and
while re-circulating the fabric to the transferring passageway from
the residence chamber with jetting force of the fluid,
characterized in that the exit section of the residence chamber is
located at a position lower than the entrance section thereof to
thereby allow the treating liquor jetting portion at the inlet of
the transferring passageway to locate at low position, the textile
fabric is taken up at a short distance into the transferring
passageway from the residence chamber with jetting force of the
treating fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid jetting
section and wetted with the treating liquor while being
circulatingly transferred and, thereafter, the textile fabric moves
down gradually in its advancing direction from the entrance section
of the residence chamber, and dyeing and other treatment for
feeling, etc. are applied to the textile fabric while being
transferred in zigzag form as if floating, with separation of the
treating liquor from the textile fabric by the dual bottom of the
residence chamber, thereafter being again taken up in direction to
the treating fluid jetting section for re-circulating.
14. A method for treating a textile fabric in rope form in an air
jet flow type according to claim 13, comprising charging the
textile fabric in a circular fabric treating passageway comprised
of a transferring passageway and a residence chamber both ends of
which are jointed to one another, and carrying out dyeing and other
treatment to the charged textile fabric while transferring from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber, but in zigzag
form in the residence chamber, with jetting force of air and liquor
mixed fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid jetting section
having an air jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion and
while circulating again to the transferring passageway from the
residence chamber with jetting force of the fluid, characterized in
that dyeing and other treatment are effected with either air and
liquor mixed fluid or the fluid of treating liquor individual in
the process for raising and holding the treating fluid temperature
at a constant degree and the treated textile fabric is cooled down
in the cooling process by pressure control of the circulating air
flow.
15. A method for treating a textile fabric in rope form in an air
jet flow type according to claim 13, comprising charging the
textile fabric in a circular fabric treating passageway comprised
of a transferring passageway and a residence chamber both ends of
which are jointed to one another, and carrying out dyeing and other
treatment to the charged textile fabric while transferring from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber, but in zigzag
form in the residence chamber, with jetting force of air and liquor
mixed fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid jetting section
having an air jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion and
while circulating again to the transferring passageway from the
residence chamber with jetting force of the fluid, characterized in
that dyeing and other treatment are effected with either air and
liquor mixed fluid or the fluid of treating liquor individual in
the process for raising and holding the treating fluid temperature
at a constant degree and, in the cooling process, cooling operation
is effected with gasified latent heat while gradual pressure drop
for adjustment, increase and reduction of the apparatus internal
pressure are being repeated after drain-out of the high temperature
liquor.
16. A method for treating a textile fabric in rope form in an air
jet flow type according to claim 13, comprising charging the
textile fabric in a circular fabric treating passageway comprised
of a transferring passageway and a residence chamber both ends of
which are jointed to one another, and carrying out dyeing and other
treatment to the charged textile fabric while transferring from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber, but in zigzag
form in the residence chamber, with jetting force of air and liquor
mixed fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid jetting section
having an air jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion and
while circulating again to the transferring passageway from the
residence chamber with jetting force of the fluid, characterized in
that dyeing and other treatment are effected with either air and
liquor mixed fluid or the fluid of treating liquor individual in
the process for raising and holding the treating fluid temperature
at a constant degree and, in the cooling process, the treated
textile fabric is cooled down by gasified latent heat while the
apparatus internal pressure is gradually adjusted for reduction
after drain-out of the high temperature liquor and thereafter the
treated textile fabric is dried by either circulating the air only
or repeating air pressurizing and exhausting and, thereafter taken
out the fabric from the apparatus.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an air jet flow type apparatus and method
for treating textile materials (fabrics) in rope form, wherein
dyeing, scouring, bleaching, and feeling-treatment of textile
materials are performed by wet treatment while transferring and
circulating the materials through a circular fabric treating
passageway by means of jet flow of air and liquor.
BACKGROUND ART
Air jet flow type apparatus for treating textile material is well
known, wherein the textile material is treated by transferring and
circulating the said material with air jet flow and wetting the
said material with a treating liquid. For example, such prior art
is disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 74 489403 (Japanese Laid-open Patent
Specification (Kokai) No. 51-32885), DE P3142200.4 (Japanese Patent
Publication No. 63-36385), etc.
The apparatus disclosed in these prior arts enables treatment of
textile material at extreme low liquor ratio (1:3 or less) by
transferring and treating textile material, etc. with air jet flow
and is more excellent due to the said treatment method than
conventional liquor flow type dyeing machine wherein textile
material is transferred and dyed with jet flow of liquor, but the
apparatus has difficulties as mentioned below in practical
treatment of textile material.
In more detail, the invention disclosed in the former patent
specification No. 51-32885 relates to the method for treating
textile material in two process steps, wherein treating liquor of
normal temperature is applied to textile material through inert gas
(usually air) and subsequently steam is fed into a residence
chamber for changing the temperatures of surface of the textile
fabric and treating liquor, whereby dyestuff is penetrated in and
fixed to the textile fabric, but the disadvantage of this method is
to need a long time for the treatment.
On the other hand, the invention disclosed in the latter patent
publication No. 63-36385 relates to the method for circulating and
treating textile material for a given time, wherein circulation of
the textile material is started with jet flow of non-inert gas (hot
air or steam) and subsequently the said textile material is rapidly
heated up to a preset temperature using steam which is fed from a
steam feed pipe.
However, as a disadvantage of the said method, where steam is used
as air jet flow to transfer textile fabric, the steam results in
dew condensation on the inner wall of tank and the dew condensate
drops onto textile fabric to be treated, then resulting in uneven
dyeing of the textile fabric in spot form, and simultaneously steam
condensation causes the volume of treating liquor to increase and,
as a result, the concentration of treating liquid to fluctuate due
to the increased liquor.
Furthermore, in both of the former and latter inventions, a header
having a driving reel is provided in projection form on the round
section of the apparatus so as to allow smooth transfer of textile
fabric with large head drop, but this head drop causes tension to
act on the textile fabric when it is took up, and then results in
rope wrinkle and force wrinkle on the textile fabric due to fabric
lap phenomenon, in addition, causes failure to achieve sufficient
relaxing effect for the textile fabric.
As an apparatus to eliminate a part of the difficulties mentioned
above, Japanese Patent Publication (Patent publication No. 7-30505,
Patent Application No. 4-226024) proposes a new air jet flow type
apparatus for treating textile material in rope form (See, for
reference, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). More particularly, as a whole the
apparatus comprises fabric transferring tube 42 and residence
chamber 43 which are configured in longitudinal direction wherein
the inlet portion of the transferring tube and the outlet portion
of the residence chamber are jointed to one another through a
header 44 and the outlet portion of the said transferring tube is
jointed in insertion to the entrance of the residence chamber, thus
a fabric treating passageway 45 is formed in circular form.
Therefore, this fabric treating passageway 45 comprises the header
44 having driving reel 46 which is built in the header, treating
fluid jetting section 47 which is connected to the said header in
horizontal position, the transferring tube 42 which extends in
horizontal direction from the treating fluid jetting section, and
the residence chamber 43 wherein the inlet section thereof
connected to the outlet portion of the said transferring tube acts
as a means for dropping down fabric which is in downward slope, the
intermediate section of the chamber is a little sloped toward the
fabric advancing direction, and rising part 48 wherein the outlet
portion thereof is acutely bent upward so as to permit jointing the
rising part to the header.
The apparatus transfers and circulates textile fabric, etc. through
a circular fabric treating passageway with air jet flow, exactly
controls the temperatures of air and liquor by heat exchangers 51,
52 which are installed on each of air circulation conduit 49 and
treating liquor circulation conduit 50, and produces air-liquor
mixed fluid from the temperature-controlled air and liquor by fluid
mixing portion 53 and dyes textile fabric by spraying the
air-liquor mixed fluid into the textile fabric, whereby extreme low
liquor ratio ( liquor ratio 1:3 or less ) is achieved.
In the art disclosed in the Patent Publication No. 7-30505,
however, since the exit section of the residence chamber which
bends at acute angle in upward direction is jointed with the
header, the head drop from the bottom of the chamber to the header
is so great that tension load acts on textile fabric, then
resulting in rope wrinkle and force wrinkle of fabric in the
residence chamber. Moreover, since fabric is fed into a
transferring passageway which extends in nearly horizontal
direction after converting the fabric to the angle ranging from 120
to 150 degrees from vertical position by the reel or roll which is
built in the header, fabric friction and contact with the reel or
roll take place in the fabric, then resulting in risk of fabric
damage which is not allowed in the view of fabric quality. Further,
when fabric jetting force jetted from the treating fluid jetting
section and driving force by the reel or roll are concurrently
applied to the fabric, different propelling force between the fluid
and the reel or roll makes it difficult to keep the fabric transfer
speed at uniform rate. An example wherein the reel or roll is
omitted is proposed in Patent Application No. 6-051591 (Patent
Publication No.7-268763)
In addition, the air jet flow type apparatus of conventional
example mentioned above pre-produce mixed fluid of air and liquor
by a fluid mixing portion (See, for reference, FIG. 9) and feeds
and dyes textile fabric by spraying the mixed fluid onto the
textile fabric from the treating fluid jetting section.
Since, thus, the treating liquor is mixed and atomized into air
flow by the fluid mixing portion, it is impossible to achieve the
mixed fluid of proper ratio according to the weight per specific
unit (METSUKE) of the fabric to be treated and, therefore, the kind
of fabric which can be treated by the said apparatus is limited.
Further, an example of treating fluid jetting section having an air
jetting portion and a liquor jetting portion is proposed in Patent
Application No. 6-27079, but the treating fluid jetting section is
of fixed type so that it is impossible to change individually the
air spray pressure and liquor spray pressure.
Moreover, in the conventional air jet flow type apparatus, dyed
textile fabric is cooled down to, at least, approximately 80
degrees C. while being circulatingly transferred, after completion
of dyeing treatment, and thereafter the treating liquor accumulated
at the bottom of the residence chamber is drew off. But during the
above cooling process, since the air and liquor mixed fluid which
is cooled down using cooling water is further sprayed continually
from the fluid jetting section, the required cooling time tends to
extend, due to the water cooling system which is indispensable and
cools down the fluid indirectly by heat exchanger. In addition,
when the treating fluid temperature has lowered to some extent,
oligomer which is eluted from treated fabric tends to re-adhere to
the treated fabric and also the heat value of the treated fabric is
retained at comparatively high degree due to the treating liquor
which is sprayed on the fabric even during cooling operation. This
high heat value of the treated fabric and indirect cooling system
using cooling water makes the required cooling time longer.
Ishimaru, one of the inventors of the present invention, has
proposed a method of using gasified latent heat without using
cooling water as an invention which eliminates the above-mentioned
problems (Japanese Patent Application No.7-105210).
Further, Ishimaru and Takigawa, the inventors of the present
invention, have proposed an air jet flow type apparatus for
treating textile fabric having a reformed circular treating
passageway, in which an exit section of the residence chamber
having a reel or roll is in spherical and is in low position so as
not to allow tension load to act on textile fabric, and the inlet
portion of the transferring passageway is jointed in approximately
vertical position to the exist section of the residence chamber (
Patent Application No. 7-218434). Nomura, one of the inventors of
the present invention, has proposed an air and liquor united type
nozzle structure (Patent Application No.7-185331). Ishimaru,
Takigawa and Nomura, the inventors of the present invention have
derived a method which allows proper transfer and circulation of
textile fabric, using a header of the apparatus with or without
reel or roll, as the result upon improvement of an overall
construction of the air jet flow type apparatus.
The present invention, as mentioned above, has solved the
difficulties of the prior arts, and provides an apparatus and a
method for treating textile materials adopting a new system
composition with totally combination of arts so as to control
properly cooling and drying operations during the treatment
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air jet flow
type apparatus and method for treating textile fabric in rope form
which allows fabric transfer by air jet flow and liquor jet flow
from a treating fluid jetting section, without building in reel or
roll in the header of the said apparatus, and which allows
tensionless and smooth take-up of the fabric at a short distance
from the exit section of the residence chamber which is located at
a position lower than the entrance section of the said residence
chamber.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an air jet
flow type apparatus and a method for treating textile fabric in
rope form at extreme low liquor ratio which do not allow not only
tension load acting on fabric but also wrinkle of fabric,
elongation of warp yarns, displacement of fabric meshes, and fabric
friction and contact with other construction parts, and which is
free from operation trouble such as results in entanglement of
fabric.
It is further object of the present invention to provide an air jet
flow type apparatus and method for treating textile fabric in rope
form which allows the treatment of fabrics throughout a wide range
of fabric weight from synthetic textile fabric of light weight per
specific unit (METSUKE) up to textile fabric of heavy weight per
specific unit and, furthermore, is provided with a nozzle device
which ensures proper fabric propelling force by a treating liquid
jetting section which allows adjustment of the mix ratio of liquor
flow to air flow throughout wide application range of fabrics
according to the type and weight per specific unit of fabric.
It is further object of the present invention to provide an air jet
flow type apparatus and method which achieve energy-saving by
cooling effect from the use of gasified latent heat, without using
cooling water, in the cooling process and thereby save the required
cooling time, prevent adhesion of oligomer to the treated fabric,
and which enables a series of treatment up to drying.
According to the present invention, a circular fabric treating
passageway comprising a transferring passageway and a residence
chamber both of which are jointed to one another, wherein the
transferring passageway which is provided with a treating fluid
jetting section at its inlet portion bends and extends nearly
straight from the bent portion and the outlet portion of the said
transferring passageway is jointed in tongue form with the entrance
section of the residence chamber. The exit section of the residence
chamber is located lower than the entrance section of the chamber
and is sloped toward fabric transfer direction so as to allow
gradual fall-down of the fabric and the end of the said exit
portion is in nearly spherical form and bends toward upward and
jointed to the inlet portion of the transferring passageway.
A treating fluid jetting section which is installed on the inlet
portion of the said transferring passageway is located at a lower
height from ground level so that tension load acting on the fabric
is minimized when the fabric is taken up in free condition from the
residence chamber. Moreover, the residence chamber has a dual
bottom provided with a porous perforated plate to facilitate
dehydrating from the fabric and, in addition, the said residence
chamber is provided with a liquor accumulating portion to store
therein the separated water.
Textile fabric to be treated is sucked into the treating fluid
jetting section which is located at low height as mentioned above
and the fabric is transferred at a short distance from the
residence chamber up to the transferring passageway, being then
taken up and, where no reel or roll is equipped, frictional
resistance to the fabric is reduced to the least so that the fabric
is free from friction and contact with peripherals of the treating
fluid jetting section. Moreover, even when the header is equipped
with reel or roll, the fabric transfer direction can be smoothly
converted toward the treating fluid jetting section, whereby smooth
transfer of fabric is secured. The treating fluid jetting section
comprises a liquor jetting portion and an air jetting portion,
wherein air flow and liquor flow are jetted at the respective jet
angles from the said air and liquor jetting portions, and jetting
pressure adjustment of air flow and liquor flow and optimization of
the fabric propelling force are attained by adjustment of clearance
of the jet nozzles respectively. Thus, the method of the present
invention allows proper adjustment of the treating fluid according
to the purpose of treating, kind and weight per specific unit of
the fabric to be treated.
The liquor jetting portion is connected to a treating liquor
circulation conduit starting from the residence chamber bottom and
reaching the liquor jetting portion via pump, heat exchanger and
control valve and the air jetting portion is connected to an air
circulation conduit starting from the gaseous phase area of the
residence chamber and reaching the air jetting portion via blower
and control valve. Therefore, the apparatus of the present
invention is provided with a means which allows adjustment of the
mixed fluid according to the kind of the fabric and weight per
specific unit (METSUKE) of the fabric and which also allows
adjustment of air to liquor mix ratio according to the purpose of
treating. For example, air flow rate is increased for quick and
smooth circulation of textile fabric in such a case where good
relax effect and untwisting effect are required for synthetic
fabrics of light weight per specific unit like polyester fabric. In
such a case where short-time dyeing treatment and fibrilating
treatment are required, a treating method which secures smooth
transfer of fabric and does not allow uneven treating becomes
available by controlling the liquor flow rate so as to
increase.
Since the treating liquor contained in the treated fabric is
dehydrated from the fabric by dropping and separating via a porous
perforated plate which composes the dual bottom of the residence
chamber, the water content in the treated fabric decreases and, as
a result, the self-weight of fabric reduces correspondingly so that
the fabric is transferred as if it was floating under the
atmosphere of gaseous phase and, when the fabric is taken up by
jetting force of the treating fluid jetting section which is
located on the upstream end of the transferring passageway, the
fabric can be transferred smoothly with its light weight, with
almost no tension load acting on the fabric. The fabric can be
taken up at short distance from the bottom of the treating chamber
by the jetting force of the treating fluid jetting section and is
free from warp directional elongation or rope wrinkle.
According to the present invention, where the residence chamber is
not equipped with driving reel or roll at its exit section, the
fabric is free from friction mark and contact mark which result
from contact with reel or role and mesh displacement which results
from frictional resistance. In such a case where the residence
chamber is equipped with driving reel or roll at its exit section,
fabric transfer direction is smoothly converted to the transferring
passageway from the residence chamber so that the fabric is free
from friction mark and contact mark. Furthermore, even at the
outlet portion of the transferring passageway textile fabric can be
fed smoothly into the residence chamber along the said passageway,
whereby good feeling-treatment of the fabric can be carried out in
tensionless condition.
The treating liquor separated in the residence chamber circulates
through the treating liquor circulation conduit from the bottom of
the residence chamber and the liquor accumulating portion of the
chamber can smoothly circulate the liquor without surging
phenomenon from the pump.
Textile fabric to be treated is first charged into the apparatus
from a porthole which is provided at the exit section of the
residence chamber and, thereafter, transferred the fabric from the
transferring passageway into the residence chamber by means of air
flow and subsequently circulated in loop form, after the butt ends
of the fabric were seamed together into a loop form. Thereafter,
dyeing and other necessary treatments are carried out with mixed
fluid of air and liquor flow in the process wherein the temperature
of the treating fluid which is jetted from the treating fluid
jetting section is raised and retained at a constant degree. In the
cooling process, then, the treated fabric is cooled down and
further dried by gasified latent heat, after complete drain-out of
high temperature liquor, while internal pressure of the apparatus
is being gradually reduced for adjustment and pressuring-reducing
operation is being repeated.
For the purpose of carrying out the sequential operation mentioned
above, the apparatus is provided with high temperature liquor drain
valve which is connected to the residence chamber, a pressure
sensor to detect internal pressure of the air jet flow type
treating apparatus, a pressure control valve for cooling control
which is connected to the air jet flow type treating apparatus, and
a control unit intended to control the said high temperature liquor
drain valve and the pressure control valve according to control
signals which are emitted from the said pressure sensor.
Since, in the cooling process, air only is jetted over textile
fabric for thereby circulating the fabric without using liquor
spray from the treating fluid jetting section and the fabric is
cooled down by gasified latent heat which is attained from pressure
control of the circulating air flow, then direct and efficient
fabric cooling can be achieved without using cooling water.
Furthermore, the present invention which is mainly treated the
fabric by an air jet flow makes the treating liquor impregnated in
textile fabric decrease and also makes heat value accumulated in
the fabric the least so that the required cooling time can be
shortened remarkably, with efficient cooling process by gasified
latent heat which is attained by pressure control.
Moreover, the fabric can be dried easily by circulating and
treating by air under a specific high pressure for a given time and
thereafter rapidly deaerating up to normal pressure, before the
fabric goes into the drying process, and circulating the fabric
under the said pressure condition with drying air flow. Further,
where fabric transfer by air flow only is made available, the
drying method allows a drying process wherein the atmospheric air
is sucked and exhausted, that is, allows consistent fabric
treatment from charging the fabric up to dyeing and drying
treatment.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an air
jet flow type apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of main components of
the apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the nozzle
device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating another
embodiment of the apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a
further embodiment of the apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between air-liquor mix
discharge flow and fabric weight per specific unit.
FIGS. 7a and 7b are a charts showing comparisons of dyeing
treatment examples using polyester fabric.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the
conventional example of air jet flow type apparatus.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fluid mixing
portion and nozzle device in the conventional apparatus.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention is an air jet flow type apparatus and a
method for treating textile fabric wherein textile fabric in rope
form is charged into a circular fabric treating passageway which
comprising a transferring passageway and a residence chamber both
of which are jointed to one another at their ends and the charged
fabric is seamed into an endless form, and is transferred from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber, and various
treatments such as dyeing, scouring, bleaching, feeling-treatment,
etc. are made to the fabric while transferring and circulating from
the residence chamber to the transferring passageway and
re-transferring the fabric by means of jetting force of air flow
and liquor flow.
Fabric to be treated is transferred nearly straight in the
transferring passageway and is advanced in zigzag form through the
residence chamber. Since the treating liquor contained in the
fabric dehydrated from the fabric by dropping-separation via a
porous perforated plate which composes the dual bottom of the
residence chamber, water content in the fabric decreases and, as a
result, the self-weight of the fabric reduces correspondingly so
that the fabric is transferred under gaseous phase as if it is
floating in air and, when it is taken up by jetting force of the
treating fluid jetting section which is located on upstream end of
the transferring passageway, the fabric can be transferred smoothly
due to its light weight, with nearly no tension load acting on the
fabric.
Since the entrance section of the residence chamber is located at
high position and the exit section of the chamber is located at low
position on the ground on which the apparatus is installed, the
fabric can be taken up at short distance by the treating fluid
jetting section and is free from warp directional elongation, rope
wrinkle, etc. In such a case where no driving reel or roll is
equipped, the mesh displacement, friction mark, contact mark, etc.
are effectively avoided due to no contact with the driving reel or
roll.
The treating fluid jetting section comprises a nozzle of an air
jetting portion which communicates with an air feed pipeline
connected to an air circulation conduit and a nozzle of a liquor
jetting portion which communicates with a liquor feed pipeline
connected to a liquor circulation conduit, whereby air jet flow and
liquor jet flow are jetted from each of the nozzles over textile
fabric simultaneously after adjustment of the respective jets to a
proper rate by changing the jetting angle on actual application. In
jetting the treating fluid, each nozzle clearance is changed by
shifting a central sliding tube and a tubular guide or a
trumpet-shaped guide so as to allow proper adjustment of the fabric
propelling force and the degree of fabric wetting as well as
adjustment of air to liquor mix ratio according to the kind and
weight of per specific unit of textile fabric and the purpose of
treatment.
The present invention will now be explained in detail below, with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the air
flow type apparatus of the present invention and FIG. 2 is an
enlarged cross-sectional view of the main components of the
apparatus. A circular fabric treating passageway 1 comprising a
transferring passageway 2 and a residence chamber 3, both ends of
which are jointed to one another. In detail, an inlet portion 2a of
the transferring passageway 2 which is jointed with an exit section
3b of the residence chamber 3 via a treating fluid jetting section,
in approximately vertical direction, and the passageway bends in
direction of horizontal and further extends straight from its bent
portion. The outlet portion 2b of the transferring passageway 2 is
jointed in tongue joint type with an entrance section 3a of the
residence chamber 3.
The residence chamber 3 is installed in gradual downward slope
toward advancing direction of the fabric and its entrance section
3a is located at a position higher than its exit section 3b in
spherical shape which is located at a low height close to the
ground on which the apparatus is installed. In FIG. 1, X, Y and GL
represent the height up to the exit section of the residence
chamber, the height up to the entrance section of the residence
chamber and the ground line (level) respectively, and the condition
of both heights is X<Y. Air jetting portion 4 and liquor jetting
portion 5 both of which compose a treating fluid jetting section 6.
The treating fluid jetting section is installed in an inlet portion
2a of the transferring passageway 2 to allow mixing of air flow and
liquor flow and jetting the mixed fluid over textile fabric. In
FIG. 1, this treating fluid jetting section 6 is installed at only
one place, but in some cases it may be installed at two or more
portions of the transferring passageway to ensure smooth transfer
and circulation of the textile fabric. A porthole for charging and
taking-out the fabric which is installed at a low position close to
the ground line and thereby charging and taking-out operation of
the fabric is efficiently executed without using an auxiliary
stepladder, etc.
The residence chamber 3 has a dual bottom with a porous perforated
plate 8 so as to allow separation of the treating liquor which
drips from the treated fabric. The apparatus is composed of an air
circulating conduit 11 starting from the gaseous phase area of the
residence chamber 3 and reaching the air jetting portion 4 via a
blower 9 and a control valve 10. In this case, the air circulation
conduit 11 does not use a heat exchanger. Liquor accumulating
portion 12 is equipped under the bottom of the residence chamber. A
circular conduit having a pump 13, a heat exchanger 14 and a
control valve 15 is composed of a treating liquor circulation
conduit 16 starting from the liquor accumulating portion 12 at the
bottom of the residence chamber 3 and reaching the liquor jetting
portion 5. The liquor accumulating portion 12 which is located at
the bottom of the residence chamber acts to prevent surging
phenomenon which may result from the pump 13.
The control valves 10 and 15 can control the mix ratio of air flow
and liquor flow according to control signals from a controlling
unit (CPU) 17, whereby fabric transfer at a constant speed is
ensured with an effect by proper spray force which is adjustable
according to the kind of a textile fabric to be treated and weight
per specific unit of fabric to be treated. A treating liquor
preparation tank 18 which is installed to feed dyestuff and
auxiliary agent, from where the prepared treating liquor (dyestuff)
is fed into the treating liquor circulation conduit 16 by a pump
19. 20 represents a textile fabric.
As mentioned above, a textile fabric 20 which is circulated through
the circular fabric treating passageway 1 is taken up and sucked at
a short distance by means of the fluid jetting force of air jet
flow from the treating fluid jetting section 6 located at low
height which is equipped between the exit section 3b of the
residence chamber 3 and the inlet portion 2a of the transferring
passageway 2. Therefore, textile fabric is free from contact mark
which may arise from fabric contact with the edge of the treating
fluid jetting section and also free from rope wrinkle and force
wrinkle of fabric as well since the fabric is tensionlessly
transferred. Thus, the present invention allows extreme low liquor
ratio by air jet flow treatment and shortens the required treating
time.
In FIG. 3, a nozzle case 21 as a treating fluid jetting portion is
mounted on the inlet portion 2a of the transferring passageway 2
with flanges 22, 23, then composing a part of the fabric
transferring passageway 2 of the circular fabric treating
passageway. A partition flange 24 which is provided inside the
nozzle case 21 at its center portion, whereby the nozzle case is
internally divided into two spaces, which then compose the air
jetting portion 4 and the liquor jetting portion 5.
An air feed pipeline 25 which is connected to the air circulation
conduit 11 and is further communicated with the air jetting portion
4. A liquor feed pipeline 26 which is connected to the treating
liquor circulation conduit 16 and is further communicated with the
liquor jetting portion 5. A sliding tube 27 is inserted through the
said partition flange 24 so as to slide freely.
In an example illustrated, a screw thread is used to ensure
flexible sliding of the sliding tube, but not limited to this
method since any arrangement is acceptable provided that the said
tube can be securely fixed. The sliding tube 27 has a convexed
ring-form taper surface(a) at its one end and a concaved ring-form
taper surface (b) at its other end respectively. The convexed
ring-form taper surface (a) is located within the liquor jetting
portion 5 and the concaved ring-form taper surface (b) is located
within the air jetting portion 4. A tubular guide 28 is fixed to
flange 22 of the nozzle case 21 and is provided, at its inner end,
with a convexed taper surface (a) which composes a nozzle (a) 29
corresponding to the taper surface (a) of the sliding tube 27
A trumpet-shaped guide 30 is mounted on the flange 23 of the nozzle
case 21 so as to be available for sliding and is provided, at its
one end, with convexed taper surface (b) corresponding to the taper
surface (b) of the sliding tube 27, and is provided, at its another
end, with a fabric guide portion 31. In an example illustrated, a
screw thread is used as the method for sliding and fixing the
guides, but not limited to this method provided that it is possible
to fix the guides. The nozzle (b) 32 comprises the taper surface
(b) of the sliding tube 27 and the taper surface (b) of the
trumpet-shaped guide 30. An adjust ring 33 is fitted in the sliding
tube 27 to regulate the fixed position of the sliding tube 27.
The spray angle of the taper surface (a) composing the nozzle (a)
29 is approximately 40 degrees in both directions from the center
axis line of the sliding tube 27 and the spray angle of the taper
surface (b) composing the nozzle (b) 32 is approximately 20 degrees
in both directions from the center axis line of the sliding tube
27. The clearance range in the nozzle (a) is 2 to 15 mm and that in
the nozzle (b) is adjustable in range of 0.4 to 2.0 mm, but the
said clearance is further adjustable according to the required
sliding strokes of the sliding tube 27 and the trumpet-shaped guide
30.
In FIG. 3, a trumpet-shaped guide 28 is mounted on the flange 22 so
as to be available for sliding and the trumpet-shaped guide 30 is
fixed to the flange 23. The clearance in the nozzle (a) and nozzle
(b) is adjustable not only by sliding of the sliding tube 27 but
also by sliding of the tubular guide 28. Furthermore, it is also
possible to install the both tubular guide 28 and trumpet-shaped
guide 30 so as to be available for sliding.
The construction and arrangement of the nozzle mentioned above
allow opening-degree adjustment of the control valves 10 and 15 in
accordance with command signals from the control unit 17, according
to fabrics of different type and different weight per specific unit
and application which requires fibrilation and untwisting effect as
a purpose of treatment. Furthermore, adjustment of the fluid spray
force by simultaneous adjustment of the nozzles (a) and (b) and by
proper control of liquor to air mix ratio allows smooth transfer
and sufficient circulation of textile fabric to be treated.
The air flow type apparatus of the present invention enables to
reduce the required treating time and to thereby improve the
treating productivity since textile fabric is transferred by jet
flow action of air and liquor mixed fluid so that rope wrinkle is
not fixed due to wrinkle spots which are variable all times and
fabric transfer speed rate can be increased due to reduction of
tension load acting on the textile fabric when it is taken up.
Furthermore, the control unit 17 controls respective
opening-degrees of the control valves 10, 15 to thereby regulate
the fluid rate jetted from the air jetting section 4 and the liquor
jetting section 5 and to thereby produce optimum air and liquor
mixed fluid according to different fabric type and different fabric
weight per specific unit, for example, depending on whether a
fabric to be treated is polyester or wool. When relax effect and
untwisting effect are required for treatment of polyester fabric,
etc. depending on the purpose of treating, quick and smooth
circulation of textile fabric can be achieved by increasing the air
flow rate. Moreover, short-time dyeing and fibrilating treatment
can also be effected by increasing the liquor flow rate.
In the present invention, the sliding tube equipped inside the
nozzle case is so slidable as to allow change of the clearance in
each of the nozzles which jet and feed air and treating liquor into
each chamber from the air feed pipeline and the liquor feed
pipeline, that is, enabling to select proper fabric propelling jet
force according to the type and weight per specific unit of fabric.
Sliding movement of the sliding tube via the flange which is
provided inside the nozzle case allows individual or simultaneous
change of the clearances in the nozzles (a) and (b) and allows
sliding movement of the tubular guide and/or the trumpet-shaped
guide. Moreover, the tubular guide is fixed to the nozzle case to
facilitate installation of the said case and nozzle clearance
adjustment can be made by sliding the sliding tube and
trumpet-shaped guide. Further, the adjust ring holds the sliding
tube constantly at its fixed position so as to allow easy
adjustment of the nozzle clearance.
The nozzles (a) and (b) can set up and keep the respective
clearance to a specific value all the times by control of the fixed
position of the sliding tube to which the adjust ring is fitted,
and thereby facilitate constant nozzle setting-up to the same type
of textile. Furthermore, the jet spray angle of the air nozzle (a)
ranges from 15 to 50 degrees in both directions from the center
axis line of the sliding tube and the jet spray angle of the liquor
nozzle ranges from 5 to 30 degrees in both direction from the
center axis line of the sliding tube, whereby exact jet propelling
force and exact wetting can both be given to textile fabric.
Efficient jetting force can be attained by setting up the
respective jet spray angles of the nozzles (a) and (b) to such a
degree that the focal point of air jet flow from the nozzle (a)
matches the focal point of liquor jet flow from the nozzle (b). The
air jetting portion and liquor jetting portion are interchangeable
in location so that optimum mixed fluid of air and liquor can be
obtained according to textile fabric and smooth transfer and
circulation of textile fabric can be achieved, which enables to
significantly improve the quality of the treated textile
fabric.
FIG. 4 is an another embodiment example of the air flow type
apparatus of the present invention. A reel or roll 38 converts the
advancing direction of a textile fabric 20 at the exit section 3a
of the residence chamber 3 and thereby allows smooth sucking of the
textile fabric into the treating fluid jetting section 6. A heat
exchanger 39 is equipped on the air flow circulation conduit and a
filter 40 acts as an air intake port. A valve 41 releases or shuts
off intake of the air.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the
main components of the other example of the present invention. A
treating fluid jetting section which is installed at the inlet
section of the transferring passageway 2 is inclined upward
direction and consecutively, the transferring passageway extends in
horizontal direction.
FIG. 6 shows the discharge rate of air and liquor mixed fluid and
the fabric weights per specific unit which correspond to each
discharge rate of the mixed fluid. The vertical coordinate
represents the air flow rate ranging from 5 to 15 cubic meters and
pump discharge capacity ranging from 100 to 600 liters per minute,
while the horizontal coordinate represents the range of fabric
weights per specific unit which correspond to the said air flow
rate and pump discharge, from which optimum discharge rate of the
mixed fluid can be selected according to the purpose of fabric
treatment.
The method of the present invention allows cooling down of textile
fabric under treating by utilizing gasified latent heat which is
obtained through pressure control of circulating air flow, without
using cooling water in the cooling process.
That is as shown in FIG. 1, a pressure sensor 34, a pressure gauge
35 and a pressure control valve for cooling control 36 are
connected to the exit section 3b of the residence chamber 3
respectively and the pressure data detected by the pressure sensor
are inputted in the control unit 17, and open/close control of the
pressure control valve 36 and the high temperature liquid drain
valve 37 is effected according to commands from the control unit
17.
The control unit 17 stores in its memory the maximum reduction
speed of the internal pressure of the apparatus during cooling
operation and, upon comparing a detection result from the pressure
sensor 34 with the stored optimum speed data, gradually reduces the
pressure, for example, from 3 kg to 1 kg.
The high temperature liquid drain valve is kept closed and the
control valves 10 and 15 are opened while textile fabric is being
treated. High pressure air is fed into the apparatus through the
pressure control valve 36, which closes when internal pressure of
the apparatus has reached a specific pressure (ex. 3 kg/sq.cm ).
Under this condition, a pump 13 starts to feed the treating liquor
of high temperature into the treating fluid jetting section 6 which
is located at the inlet section of the transferring passageway 2
and, thereafter, the treating liquor is jetted toward downstream
section of the transferring passageway from the treating fluid
jetting section. The blower 9 starts, at the same time, to feed the
air, which was sucked from the upper section of the residence
chamber 3, into the air jetting portion 4 through the air
circulation conduit 11 and the air is jetted toward downstream
section of the transferring passageway 2 from the air jetting
portion 4.
Air and liquor mixed fluid is produced at the inlet section of the
transferring passageway 2 by jet flow of air and liquor of high
temperature from these air jetting portion 4 and liquor jetting
portion 5 and, thereafter, the mixed fluid is jetted over a textile
fabric 20, whereby the treating liquor is penetrated into the
fabric 20. The fabric is further transferred through the
transferring passageway 2 by action of air and liquor jet flow,
then reaching the middle section of the residence chamber, through
its entrance section, with sliding action of the textile fabric due
to its self-weight, where the textile fabric stays in relax
condition and, thereafter, is further gradually transferred in
horizontal direction and pushed out of the middle section toward
the exit section, being then taken up at the exit section by the
treating fluid jetting section 6. On the other hand, excessive
treating liquor separated from the treated fabric drips onto the
bottom of the residence chamber 3 via the porous perforated plate 8
and is accumulated in a liquor accumulate portion 12, from where
the excessive liquor is recovered in the treating liquor
circulation conduit 16 and then fed again into the treating liquid
jetting section 6 from the said circulation conduit 16.
Thus, the high temperature liquor drain valve is opened to drain
out the liquor of high temperature after circulation treatment of
the textile fabric 20 for a given time with the treating liquor and
air. After complete drain-out of the high temperature liquor, the
cooling operation is started and, at the same time, the internal
pressure of the apparatus is gradually reduced according to
commands from the control unit 17. In detail, the high temperature
liquor drain valve 37 is opened to a specific opening-degree to
permit drain out of air (steam) from the apparatus and, at same
time, the pressure control valve 36 is opened to a specific
opening-degree to induce high pressure air into the apparatus and
to thereby partly compensate internal pressure drop in the
apparatus which arises from drain-out of the air from the
apparatus, whereby the internal pressure of the apparatus is
gradually reduced to allow rapid cooling of the treating liquor, by
gasified latent heat, which is impregnated in the textile
fabric.
The process for raising and holding the temperature of the treating
fluid at a constant degree performs dyeing and other treatment with
air and liquor mixed fluid or otherwise the liquor individual,
while the cooling process cools down the treating liquor by
gasified latent heat while gradually reducing the internal pressure
of the apparatus, after draining out the high temperature liquor.
It is therefore possible to cool down the treating liquor directly
and efficiently without using the cooling water. Non-use of the
cooling water contributes to energy saving because an energy for
circulating the cooling water can be omitted.
By performing drain-out of high temperature liquor prior to cooling
operation, not only the required cooling time can be saved but also
the liquor can be drained, with its high temperature kept, together
with dissolved impurities such as oligomer, etc., which has a good
effect in preventing contamination of the apparatus internals, so
called, contamination of the chamber and re-contamination of the
textile fabric. In the above-mentioned embodiment example, it is
also possible to cool down the treating liquor by reducing the
internal pressure, without draining the liquor at high temperature
prior to the cooling operation, and in addition the method can
prevent re-adhesion of oligomer and can reduce heat value of the
treated textile fabric though, in this case, it takes a little more
time for cooling than the method of draining the liquor at high
temperature prior to cooling operation.
The method of the present invention makes further continued drying
of textile fabric available after wet treatment of the textile
fabric. For example, the internal pressure of the residence chamber
3 is raised up to 3K and textile fabric is circulated through the
said residence chamber at 120 degrees C. for approximately 5
minutes and, thereafter, the air is exhausted (up to approximately
2k) and the residence chamber is re-pressurized. This sequential
operation is repeated.
Furthermore, by intaking fresh air by the blower 9 and heat
exchanger 35 which are equipped on the air circulation conduit as
illustrated in FIG. 4, the air can be induced into the conduit
through a filter 36 and a valve 37 and the drying process can be
achieved by circulating the textile fabric with air flow only and
exhausting the air. In this case, adequate drying effect can be
obtained by using the blower 9 having the capacity of approximately
37 kw.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
According to the present invention, after charging the textile
fabric into a circular fabric treating passageway, dyeing,
scouring, bleaching, and other feeling-treatment, etc. are made to
the fabric while it is being transferred and circulated from the
transferring passageway to the residence chamber and reversely from
the residence chamber to the transferring passageway by means of
jetting flow of air and liquor mixed fluid which is jetted from the
treating fluid jetting section. The circular fabric treating
passageway is composed of a transferring passageway intended to
transfer the textile fabric in rope form and a residence chamber
intended to transfer the textile fabric in zigzag form, both ends
of which are jointed one another. Since the height (X) up to the
exit section of the residence chamber as the air flow type
apparatus for treating textile fabric is lower than the entrance
section height (Y) of the said chamber and is close to the ground
line (GL), no tension load acts on the textile fabric when it is
taken up and a porthole is located at low position so that the
textile fabric can be charged into the apparatus easily, safely and
conveniently from a standing position of the operator, without
using additionally a stairs, a stepladder, etc.
Furthermore, in the treating fluid jetting section which is
provided at the inlet section of the transferring passageway, the
air to liquor mix ratio is adjustable suitably and the clearance of
the nozzle is also automatically adjustable according to the type
and weight per specific unit of textile fabric to be treated. In
addition, the entire sequential operation of fabric charge,
temperature raising, temperature holding at a constant degree,
cooling down and drying can be carried out consistently at a short
time. Particularly in the cooling process, a cooling system using
gasified latent heat, instead of cooling water, can securely cool
down the treated fabric in a short time. Therefore, the apparatus
has feasibility of embodiments. The apparatus can properly treat
textile fibers not only polyester and other synthetic fibers but
also natural fibers such as cotton, wool, etc. by adjusting jet
spray pressure of mixed fluid from the treating fluid jetting
section according to the purpose of treatment. Referring to FIGS. 7
(a) and 7(b), dyeing example of polyester fabric is compared herein
below with dyeing by a conventional liquor flow dyeing machine.
(a) A dyeing recipe of the present invention
Polyester fiber knitted fabric: 500 m
120 kg(240 g/m)
Liquor volume: 350 liters
Fabric speed: 650 m/minute
Nozzle pressure: 5.0 kg/sq.cm
Flow rate: 350 liters/minute
Nozzles: 90-0.5 mm (Liquor flow)
110-5 mm (Air),
Air flow rate 8 cubic m/minute
Steam consumption : 56 kg/batch
Cooling water consumption: 0 liter/batch
The full sequential operation from dyestuff charge up to cooling
completed in 65 minutes, under the conditions mentioned above.
(b) A dyeing recipe by conventional liquor flow dyeing machine
Polyester fiber knitted fabric : 500 m
120 kg (240 g/m)
Liquor volume : 2000 liters
Fabric speed : 350 m/minute
Nozzle pressure : 2.0 kg/sq.cm
Flow rate : 1000 liters/minute
Nozzles : 80-5 mm (Liquor flow)
Steam consumption : 160 kg/batch
Cooling water consumption: 2000 liter/batch
The full sequential operation from dyestuff charge up to cooling
completed in 120 minutes, under the conditions mentioned above.
Therefore, comparing a) with b), the apparatus of the present
invention could complete the full sequential operation in a short
time equivalent to approximately half of the conventional dyeing
machine, with success in energy saving under the low liquor
ratio.
* * * * *